Exports of Peruvian sweet onions may grow by as 10 percent during the 2014-15 season. In late July, Miguel Ognio, chief executive officer for KeyPerú S.A., attributed the increase to increased land in production. According to Ognio, approximately 7,400 acres (3,000 hectares) of sweet onions were planted this season. The expansion is primarily occurring in Arequipa, Ica and the north, Peru's main producing areas.

The National Mango Board is moving forward with its Ripe and Ready to Eat mango program — a program aimed to provide U.S. consumers with a quality fruit that is ripe and ready to eat by the time of purchase. The NMB has done extensive research that shows that ripe fruit has higher acceptance rates within consumers.

The Produce Marketing Association Foundation’s 2014 High Performance Management Conference titled “Optimizing the Impact of Mid-Level Leaders,” is one of several initiatives that the organization has developed to help the produce industry by engaging in issues that assist and educate produce professionals to stay successful in the highly technical, competitive and fast moving industry.

There are “a lot of unknowns” moving into the California fall grape crop this year, and a lot of variation can be anticipate in available supplies of grapes throughout the late season, ranging from timing of varieties and length of time in storage to berry size and quality, according to Clint Lucas, an inspector at RJO Produce Marketing Inc. in Fresno, CA.

With harvest currently underway, representatives of the Northwest pear industry have officially updated their initial projections for the 2014 fresh pear crop yield.

Reports of a crop of excellent quality have been confirmed from all corners of the pear-growing regions in Washington and Oregon, and the updated projection is showing a crop larger than previously forecast in the spring.

Hungry people come from all walks of life. Meet David — a firefighter for 15 years until he broke his back a couple years ago. Unable to work, he depends on his monthly disability to support himself and his 13-year-old son. He barely affords his rent and his food situation is grim.

“By the middle of the month, my son and I are often out of food,” David said. “Until I heard about your mobile food pantry, we really had nowhere else to turn. Thank you for providing this food. It arrived just in time.”